I wanted to share this interesting video I found on Facebook this morning that was shared by Louis Gerrits who runs the website michaelbreckerliverecordings.com which is a website dedicated to the great tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker who passed away in 2007. There are thousands of Michael Brecker videos floating around the internet but what makes Read More…

Derek Brown has a Youtube channel called “Beatbox Sax”. While most of us mere mortals are just trying to figure out how to play the sax the normal way (or should I say the way that is most “common”), Derek is one of those rare individuals that is breaking new ground with the saxophone. Check out the two Read More…

Louis Gerrits creator of the site michaelbreckerliverecordings.com posted a link to a video tour of the Living Jazz Archives at William Paterson University which includes the Michael Brecker Archive on Facebook this morning. I posted about this great archive in the past here: Michael Brecker Archive Article. The Michael Brecker part of the video tour Read More…

I was browsing the internet this morning when I happened upon these two amazing videos below. It struck me that as teachers and students, we are so often teaching jazz improvisation in a one dimensional realm. We talk about scales, licks, chords and patterns. We go home and practice by ourselves with our play along tracks Read More…

I just happened upon this as I was perusing the web and drinking my morning coffee just now. Chris Potter playing Giant Steps. The hard part…… he can’t go below high C. How many of you are brave enough to take on this challenge?……….I’m inspired to practice! Awesome! Share :

I had to share this! Saxophonist Ben Flocks has made a video that takes us through 150 years of saxophone history in about 10 minutes! This was posted on Youtube in 2014 but somehow I have missed it for the last two years. This is not a boring lecture but a musical performance where he Read More…

Another great interview and performance by the great saxophone player Chris Potter. This was recorded from Christian McBride’s SiriusXM radio show “The Low Down”. The interview is fascinating and Chris has such a humble and real honesty about him that it is like he’s in your living room talking to you. At the 7:45 mark Read More…

I just found this on Youtube this morning and wanted to share it. This video was made in 2003 and is a reunion concert of the original musicians from Chick Corea’s “Three Quartets” album. Chick Corea, Michael Brecker,Eddie Gomez and Steve Gadd. Three Quartets was released in 1981 and was one of the first albums Read More…

Derek Brown has a Youtube channel called “Beatbox Sax”. While most of us mere mortals are just trying to figure out how to play the sax the normal way (or should I say the way that is most “common”), Derek is one of those rare individuals that is breaking new ground with the saxophone. Check out the two Read More…

This is a great video of Mark Russo demonstrating different concepts on a Cannonball alto and tenor saxophone. Mark was one of the first professional saxophone players I ever heard in concert. I was in high school and went to the Syracuse Jazz Festival and a group called the Yellowjackets started playing. I had Read More…

Here’s an interesting video I just found the other day! This is Chris Potter playing a gig when he was 15 years old! Chris Potter is one of the top tenor saxophone player’s in the world right now. It is so interesting to hear where he was at when he was just 15 years Read More…

I just found these videos on Youtube a few minutes ago and started watching them. Lenny Pickett is a tenor sax player known to almost all saxophone players. If you have ever watched Saturday Night Live, you have heard Lenny Pickett. He’s the sax player in the middle of the TV screen playing notes so Read More…

Here’s a great interview with Chris Potter that I came across just now on Facebook. Chris Potter is one of the top tenor saxophone players in the world. There is an unbelievable solo performance in the beginning of the video and this is a very insightful interview. Chris talks about practicing and different aspect of Read More…

Here’s a great Branford Marsalis interview that I just watched on SOTW (Sax on the Web). I thought this interviewer did a great job! A lot of what he said about classical music as compared to jazz really it home with me. In college, I was so stressed to play a classical piece, it had Read More…

I wanted to share this video that is on Youtube of the 2013 Thelonious Monk Saxophone competition. I first heard of the Thelonious Monk competition in the early 90’s. I believe the competition started out in the late 80’s as a piano competition and then started including other instruments in the early 90’s. 1991 was Read More…

Here’s a great Joshua Redman interview that someone shared on facebook. I was blown away by the honesty and sincerity of Joshua Redman. You don’t get any sense that he is trying to act or pretend like he is something he is not. He’s just being honest and sincere to who he is. Joshua Redman Read More…

Testimonials

Hi Steve,
I live in a gorgeous but rural area of Oregon-no music store within 80 miles. Your lessons are my lifeline! Truly the best there are anywhere online. Love your playing. Love your teaching. Thanks again.
Ed

Ed Woodmansee

I just joined Neff Music last month. I can’t tell you how excited I’ve been to be able to pick back up on lessons. I’ve been in a rut and you got me out! I’ve especially appreciated the Lesson Path section. It was so clear I knew exactly where to jump in and start. Many many thanks!

Karin

Absolutely the best learning experience in my 40 years of playing.These books are awesome!!

Alfred LaBella

Thank you for all the educational information you provide. I am a classically trained musician. Professionally, I am a 4th and 5th grade band teacher. I have played piano and sax for many years, but now I am starting to gig out more. I have always improvised by ear in the past. I have gotten by with my strong sense of pitch, rhythm and melodic contour. However, I want to go deeper. I want to play with a greater variety of melodic and rhythmic ideas to pull from. I have studied to gain a …

Ray

I would like to say that in the last year my sax playing has progressed loads from your lessons. I have had a sax for about 20 years and dabbled with lessons from a few teachers and have learnt very little from them. As you have said in your lessons many teachers tell you to use the blues scale and leave it there, not even showing you the resolution points!!. I am now believing I can in time become a good improviser.

Thanks again,

Shane

Shane

First, I’m really excited about your materials! This site is a vast resource for any aspiring (and maybe already inspired) jazz musicians. I’m not a sax player, I play mandolin and fiddle, but have been learning jazz and playing weekly with a quintet for the past 6 months and have been struggling with all of the issues you get into in your lessons. I bought several books and lessons and plan to continue with some others as soon as I organize my practice routine.
Thanks again for a great site …

Tony Galfano

Mr. Neff, I want to thank you for sharing your God-given talents through your on-line lessons. My husband, Michael, is blind, but he is a great sax player and he has been enjoying your lessons for quite some time now. It’s not unusual for me to hear “Hey, babe, listen to THIS!” – and he will cut loose on his sax, just thrilled at what he learned during his session with you. His excitement warms my heart! You have no idea how much you have poured into my husband. You have opened musical …

Carole B

I like so many other subscribers feel so encouraged by Steve’s learning techniques; you will enjoy reading the comments of praise others have left as you too will feel that you share a common view and path. I feel very lucky to have come across Neffmusic and that feeling will remain with you as you search through a treasure trove of learning materials on offer, you will quickly find the lessons that you are suited to. You will instantly recognize the unparalleled quality of Steve’s teaching …

Stephen

I’ve been downloading your lessons for 4 months now (20 lesson) and I have noticed tremendous growth in my playing thus far! I’m so happy that I stumbled upon your site!

Bob

Steve, just a note to say thanks.

I’ve been playing a long time, but your material, laid out in such a thoughtful way, helps me to understand concepts in a new and deeper way.